Smart vehicle manuals and maintenance tracking system

Abstract

An emotive advisory system for use by one or more occupants of an automotive vehicle includes a computer configured to receive input indicative of an operating state of the vehicle. The computer determines at least one of a need to provide owner's manual (or maintenance) information to an occupant based on the operating state of the vehicle and a request to provide owner's manual (or maintenance) information to the occupant. The computer generates (i) data representing an avatar having an appearance and (ii) data representing a spoken statement for the avatar. The spoken statement provides owner's manual (or maintenance) information to the occupant in spoken dialog based on at least one of the need and the request. The data representing the avatar is output for visual display, and the data representing the statement for the avatar is output for audio play.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The invention relates to vehicle manuals and maintenance tracking. The invention further relates to an emotive advisory system (EAS) for use by one or more occupants of an automotive vehicle.[0003]2. Background Art[0004]In the current state of the art, there is no reasonable way for a driver to access information in the vehicle's owner manual while driving without help from an occupant. Further, the media in which owners manuals are written makes it difficult to access the necessary information when it is needed. Frequently, the material is difficult to understand and really is not formatted to teach the driver how to operate and repair the vehicle. Finally, the current state of the art does not help the driver manage the recommended maintenance tasks, and does not expedite the execution of these tasks in an easy to use manner.[0005]There are several problems with this scenario. First, a driver usually needs instruction on how to operate diffe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]In one embodiment of the invention, an emotive advisory system for use by one or more occupants of an automotive vehicle includes a computer configured to receive input indicative of an operating state of the vehicle. The computer determines at least one of a need to provide owner's manual information to an occupant based on the operating state of the vehicle and a request to provide owner's manual information to the oc

Problems solved by technology

In the current state of the art, there is no reasonable way for a driver to access information in the vehicle's owner manual while driving without help from an occupant.

Further, the media in which owners manuals are written makes it difficult to access the necessary information when it is needed.

Frequently, the material is difficult to understand and really is not formatted to teach the driver how to operate and repair the vehicle.

Finally, the current state of the art does not help the driver manage the recommended maintenance tasks, and does not expedite the execution of these tasks in an easy to use manner.

There are several problems with this scenario.

However, stopping is not always practical, and stopping is never convenient.

Second, if stopping is not practical, the driver may try to flip through the manual while driving.

This causes serious safety concerns as the driver's cognitive load will be taxed by trying to do multiple things at once, and will force the driver to take their eyes off of the road.

At this point, it will be too late for the information to help the driver.

Often, searches through the vehicle manual end in frustration in that the user could not find the desired information.

This often causes worry for drivers who have a hard time keeping track of what maintenance needs to be done on their vehicle and when.

It can also be difficult to remember when the vehicle was last serviced.

In addition, the vehicle dashboard continues to grow increasingly complex.

As new systems are added and existing systems become more complex there is added competition for space on the dashboard and the controls are increasingly difficult to use.

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